Baladar stood up and walked over to Elion. The Elfin Prince assumed that he would now feel the wrath of his misdeed, and he bent his head in anticipation and shame. Upon reaching his side, the Lord of Pardatha placed his hand fondly upon Elion’s shoulder and spoke to him gently.
“You cannot imagine how grateful I am to you for saving the life of this youth, he whom I call Davmiran.”
Elion lifted his head, and with an amazed look upon his face, he listened to the tale that Baladar then told.
“He was kidnapped from my very home while I was on a vital mission outside the gates. My first at arms was killed in the process, and when I returned I could find neither hide nor hair of him. He is a very special boy, you know?” Baladar remarked in a questioning tone of voice.
“Yes, sir, I found that out. Just looking into his eyes made me feel different,” he said remembering the youth’s blank gaze poignantly. “Why would anyone have abandoned him that way?”
“In order to protect him, I placed a strong spell upon him. Although the intention of the kidnapper was certainly to bring him back home with him, my conjuring caused him to leave him alone and helpless outside the gates of the city. It is more than fortunate that you happened along at such an opportune moment.”
Elion wondered about the timing himself.
“I have only just prepared messages of inquiry to send to your father and uncle, and to your western kin as well. His absence has caused me much worry. This boy means a lot to me, to us all!” Baladar remarked.
Elion again lowered his head to his chest, ashamed that he had caused this kind man so much grief, yet thoroughly relieved that what he had thought was a terrible mistake moments ago, was perhaps an incredibly fortuitous twist of fate.
“So, tell me?” Baladar asked. “You were in the woods beyond the grassy fields. And then what did you see?” he asked Elion, interested in knowing everything.
“I saw a group of soldiers accompany a young nobleman out of the gates. The boy was laying across a horse, but I did not know that at first. He was covered with a blanket. As soon as they passed through the gate, they seemed to forget all about him, and his horse wandered off alone toward where I was standing. He fell from the animal, and then I saw that it was a boy after all, and when the soldiers were out of sight, I went to assist him. He was unconscious but his eyes were partially open. They were so blue,” Elion said, looking now at no one, caught in the vision of that moment. “I lifted him onto my cape and dragged him into the woods. I could not awaken him, but I was able to force some nourishment down his throat.”
Baladar was becoming more and more impressed with this young, Elfin Prince as he continued to tell his story.
“Was he injured at all?” he asked.
“He did not appear to be so. Anyway, I helped him to drink a little, I made a portage with some branches and my cape and then I dragged him to Lormarion,” he said nonchalantly.
“You carried him all the way to Lormarion by yourself?”
“Well, I did not carry him exactly. I pulled him,” he answered.
“You encountered no one on the way? No person saw you? No one molested you?” he questioned.
“Not a single person. I kept us well hidden and I did not travel a frequented path. I know the woods well. I ran into some trouble just before I got home, though, and if it was not for my father, we would not have made it. The wolves attacked us on the plains beneath Seramour, and I fought them off until my father and some Elfin warriors came to our aid. I really do not remember much from that point on, until I found myself beneath my parent’s roof,” he concluded.
Baladar was struck by the modesty of the youth and he envisioned this small Elf, no more than a young man himself, fighting off the wolves in order to protect Davmiran. He developed a strong liking for this boy instantly.
“You have done a wonderful thing, Elion. Are you aware of just how important a role you have played in this untoward event? You may have saved us all with your deeds. History will remember you well for this,” Baladar exclaimed, more relieved than he cared to relate.
“I was so worried that you would think that I kidnaped him, and that you would therefore hate me and my people for this. I had to come here myself and apologize for stealing him from your home,” he said humbly, his eyes downcast.
“You did not steal him, you saved his life! Remember that always. You were fated to be here, outside my gates, at that very moment! There can be no other explanation for it,” he responded, elated with the news. “Make no mistake about it my son, it was not coincidence but destiny.”
Elion looked pleased for the first time since his arrival, and it appeared as if a grey cloud had lifted from his head.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Elion said as he pulled the message from his tunic that his father sent him to deliver. “My father wanted me to give this to you. But, I think that I have probably already related to you everything he wrote,” Elion said bashfully.
“I will read it later. But, tell me? Did the boy awaken or was he still insensate when you left?” the Lord of Pardatha inquired, hoping that the ‘magic’ of Seramour may have had its affects on Davmiran.
“He was still asleep, or whatever you want to call it. My mother is a healer and she was going to attend to him, but I left before she had the opportunity. She is a fine healer. He may be better by now,” Elion said with pride, believing fully in his mother’s abilities.
“It is not an illness he is suffering from, my young friend,” Baladar replied seriously. “I fear that nothing will rouse him from his ‘slumber’ until he is returned to me. I am one of but a few who hold the key to his future awareness,” he concluded.
“I am sorry for taking him away from you, but I do have other important news to tell you that may make you glad he is not still here,” the young Elf said, his slanted eyes downcast once more.
“What could possibly make me feel that way apart from the very presence of Colton dar Agonthea in our midst?” Baladar said jokingly, and then he regretted immediately having uttered his name.
“That is exactly what I need to tell you!” Elion began. “On my way here, below in the gorge beneath the great forest, I saw the most massive army I have ever seen. It was preparing to march in the direction of Pardatha!”
Baladar paled considerably at the boy’s words.
“An army, you say? And whose standards did it bear?”
“Caeltin D’Are Agenathea’s—a red sun on a black field! I saw Trolls, Orcs, Giants and Mages atop hideous, fire breathing beasts. I lost count, but there were thousands upon thousands of them,” the Elfin Prince responded quickly, the words rushing from his mouth now as he raised his eyes to meet Baladar’s own.
“I did not know which news to tell you first,” he said.
The older man did not move. Then he laughed quietly to himself, causing Elion to look at him askew.
When Baladar saw the young Elf staring up at him as if he had lost his senses, he began to speak.
“First you bring me news, better than any I could have hoped for regarding Davmiran, and then I am told that we are about to be invaded by a formidable force, by Colton himself. Do you not see the irony in this?” Baladar asked rhetorically.
“I beg your pardon, sir. I did not mean to say anything wrong. I did not consciously choose the order in which I imparted my news to you,” he said regretfully. “Of course you didn’t. I meant not to cast aspersion upon you, my boy. I have just recently been experiencing some rather disparate emotions. The fabric weaves of its own will, it seems. But the news you bring is grave indeed.” He walked to the doorway, turned to Elion and said, “You are right indeed! I am glad that Davmiran is not here. Fate once again has intervened. But, I am afraid that you are now trapped here in Pardatha instead. I cannot allow you to return from whence you came with an army on the march,” he commented, thinking all the while. “You should go north again, to your uncle. If you leave now, you can be there in five or six days,” Baladar suggested, contemplating the options.
Elion hesitated for an instant and then said, “I would like to stay here, if you will allow me to. I would like to help in any way that I can,” the Elfin Prince said, holding his head high. “I feel a part of this now, my Lord, and I would not wish to leave. That is, if you will give me permission to stay?” he asked, his slanted eyes peeking expectantly at the older man.
Baladar cogitated upon this bold, young Elf for a moment and then responded, “I would be honored to have you here, Prince Elion! Your services would be greatly appreciated. And, we have much work to do. But, you must understand the peril you will be putting yourself in. I cannot have more on my conscience than I do already,” he commented, half to himself.
“I understand, sir. I understand only too well. But, I feel that I should be here, that I am supposed to be here, and I would rather not leave the city now,” he replied in a mature and forthright manner.
Baladar looked him deeply in the eyes and said, “Well then, Elion, I accept your courageous offer of assistance! Now, you must clean yourself up and get some rest and nourishment or you will be of no use to anyone, but before you go, we must revise the dispatches I had prepared to send when you interrupted me,” he said smiling, as he retrieved the bird cage from underneath the table.
The Pardathan Lord opened the small door and removed one of the grey doves, as Elion watched inquisitively. He detached the note from its leg and tossed it aside.
“We must inform your father that you have arrived here safely and that you will remain here for some measure. We must also ask him to keep Davmiran under his protection for the time being. Is there anything you wish to say?” he asked Elion.
“Please tell him of Colton’s advance. He would want to know,” Elion replied. “Also,” he continued, his head downcast. “Please say that I am sorry for deceiving him, but that I felt it was necessary. He will know what I mean,” the young Elf said, knowing that his father will forgive him once he hears the full story, but still uncomfortable with the subterfuge he was compelled to commit.
“Certainly, lad. As far as him knowing of our peril, perhaps you are right, he should be aware. But I do not want to involve your kingdom in the affairs of Pardatha. He may feel an obligation to come to our aid, particularly when he hears that you are trapped in the city,” he responded with some reluctance.
“The Dark Lord’s movements are every Nation’s concern…,” the Elf said with a wisdom much greater than his years, “…and if my father feels that he should march to our assistance, then that should be his choice. I will ask him to remain in Seramour and to prepare his own defenses, though. He knows that he cannot remain apart from this conflict indefinitely. What affects the weave here, will affect it everywhere eventually. He must also know just how important Davmiran’s welfare is to us all. Once we explain, I believe that he will take the necessary precautions. He also knows the strength of Pardatha. He should not fear for me whilst I am here. My father is not a rash man,” Elion reasoned while trying to convince himself at the same time.
Baladar smiled at him, despite the dour circumstances, and composed the communication.
“I will tell him as much as I must and as little as I can,” he said.
Baladar placed the note back in its container, attached it once more to the bird’s leg and then walked to the window. Opening it wide, he released the bird into the air and then together they watched it fly away until they could see it no longer.
Baladar turned to Elion and said, “I intended to question your uncle Bristar of the north, as well about Davmiran. That is no longer necessary. Is there anything you wish me to tell him now?”
He thought for a minute before responding.
“Yes, he should know of Colton’s movements also. I lived with him for the past few years and I know him well. My uncle is an honorable Elf and he would be furious with me if I had knowledge such as this and kept it from him. I would be doing him a great disservice,” the young Elf said wisely.
“I suppose that all the world will find out soon enough anyway. These events are but the beginning of a series, I fear. Those whose paths have run parallel all these tiels, will find them merging in the face of a common enemy,” he replied. “You are wise to suggest that he should be informed as well,” Baladar concluded, and he shook his head in agreement. “It is not for me to conceal the truth from the other nations. Yet, I do not wish for anyone to interpret the dissemination of information as a plea. My words must be chosen carefully.”
Together they composed a short note, taking great care to word it properly and then they dispatched it in the same manner.
“It is too late to retrieve the one that I sent just before you arrived here, but it can do no real harm. Your western brethren in Eleutheria have never been too interested in the problems of our world and I have no right to seek to draw them into events that they wish to remain apart from now. They need not know of our troubles beyond that of the ‘missing boy’,” Baladar said, and then he returned to the center of the room.
Elion knew little about his western cousins and he thus remained silent in that regard.
“It is time now for you to get some well deserved rest! Do not argue with me about this now, my boy,” Baladar said as he opened the study door and called for Grogan and some attendants.
When they arrived, he instructed them to take Prince Elion to the chambers nearest to his own and to tend to his needs. Placing his arm fondly around the Elf’s shoulders, he looked into the depths of his soul and said, “You have done me two great services today for which I will be forever grateful, for which the world will be forever grateful! You have brought me news of Davmiran, the heir of Gwendolen, and you have advised me of the approach of an invading army, thus allowing us to prepare well before we may have been able to otherwise. You cannot not know how important your deeds are to us all!”
At the mention of the words ‘heir of Gwendolen’, Elion’s eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped. It all made sense to him at that moment, the feelings, the wonder, the beauty of the boy! He left Baladar’s company imbued with incredulity while at the same time, charged with apprehension. He could not help but feel as if he had stepped into the very middle of a legend. He turned to go, and as he left the room he passed Baladar’s Master at Arms entering the study.